Wes Streeting has made up a ‘straw man’ argument rather than address NHS concerns that he is turning people away from healthcare by talking down their work.
The BBC has reported that senior NHS staff fear Streeting’s message that the health service is “broken” may result in patients being put off seeking help and is causing lasting damage to staff morale.
The concern is that the NHS provides many services that are perfectly good, but Streeting’s claims may turn people away from even trying to access them – and NHS England has started monitoring for any negative impact it is having on patients coming forward for check-ups and appointments.
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In his speech to Labour’s conference today (Wednesday, September 25, 2024), Streeting did not answer the concerns that had been raised.
Instead he created a specious ‘straw man’ argument that his critics within the health service had put “protecting the reputation of the NHS above protecting patients”.
That is not what they were doing. The BBC quotes hospital leaders who said they know there are many problems and Streeting has been given a “difficult inheritance”. For example:
Thea Stein, chief executive of the Nuffield Trust think-tank, who was running an NHS trust until last year, said those working in the NHS recognised the service was struggling.
“It is important that the government now puts even more emphasis on repair, rebuilding and hope, alongside the ‘broken’ message,” she said.
One aspect of Streeting’s “broken” message that attracted particular concern was his claim that cancer is “more likely to be a death sentence for NHS patients than those in other countries”.
In response – in his speech, Streeting referred to a cancer patient who used private health insurance for the first time in her life after being diagnosed with cancer, and who believes she would be dead had she had to rely on the NHS.
But he did not clarify whether she had actually sought NHS treatment before going private. Had she in fact been put off asking for it because of his message?
If so, then his message would be negated; she would have gone private, not because of the NHS, but because of him.
The BBC has picked up on this and has taken sides with the NHS and its representatives.
“Their gripe is not that they disagree with the message so much as they want to know what the government is proposing to do about it,” wrote health correspondent Nick Triggle.
He added that Streeting is proposing reform in a 10-year plan… that will not be published until spring 2025.
Why the delay?
Why run the NHS down with a hugely negative message that must stay in the public consciousness for at least another six or seven months without any hint of a solution?
Is Streeting trying to force people into the hands of private health companies who will try to profit from their infirmities?
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Streeting has made up a ‘straw man’ argument rather than address NHS concerns
Wes Streeting has made up a ‘straw man’ argument rather than address NHS concerns that he is turning people away from healthcare by talking down their work.
The BBC has reported that senior NHS staff fear Streeting’s message that the health service is “broken” may result in patients being put off seeking help and is causing lasting damage to staff morale.
The concern is that the NHS provides many services that are perfectly good, but Streeting’s claims may turn people away from even trying to access them – and NHS England has started monitoring for any negative impact it is having on patients coming forward for check-ups and appointments.
Buy Cruel Britannia in print here. Buy the Cruel Britannia ebook here. Or just click on the image!
In his speech to Labour’s conference today (Wednesday, September 25, 2024), Streeting did not answer the concerns that had been raised.
Instead he created a specious ‘straw man’ argument that his critics within the health service had put “protecting the reputation of the NHS above protecting patients”.
That is not what they were doing. The BBC quotes hospital leaders who said they know there are many problems and Streeting has been given a “difficult inheritance”. For example:
One aspect of Streeting’s “broken” message that attracted particular concern was his claim that cancer is “more likely to be a death sentence for NHS patients than those in other countries”.
In response – in his speech, Streeting referred to a cancer patient who used private health insurance for the first time in her life after being diagnosed with cancer, and who believes she would be dead had she had to rely on the NHS.
But he did not clarify whether she had actually sought NHS treatment before going private. Had she in fact been put off asking for it because of his message?
If so, then his message would be negated; she would have gone private, not because of the NHS, but because of him.
The BBC has picked up on this and has taken sides with the NHS and its representatives.
“Their gripe is not that they disagree with the message so much as they want to know what the government is proposing to do about it,” wrote health correspondent Nick Triggle.
He added that Streeting is proposing reform in a 10-year plan… that will not be published until spring 2025.
Why the delay?
Why run the NHS down with a hugely negative message that must stay in the public consciousness for at least another six or seven months without any hint of a solution?
Is Streeting trying to force people into the hands of private health companies who will try to profit from their infirmities?
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Be among the first to know what’s going on! Here are the ways to manage it:
1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (bottom right of the home page). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.
2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
5) Join the uPopulus group at https://upopulus.com/groups/vox-political/
6) Join the MeWe page at https://mewe.com/p-front/voxpolitical
7) Feel free to comment!
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
Cruel Britannia is available
in either print or eBook format here:
The Livingstone Presumption is available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
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